Dixie High School's new teen center aims to address 'hidden problem' of student homelessness

The wellness room of the Dixie Teen Center at Dixie High School in St. George on April 2.

The wellness room of the Dixie Teen Center at Dixie High School in St. George on April 2. (Nick Fiala, St. George News)


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ST. GEORGE — Dixie High School opened its new Dixie Teen Center last Wednesday, aiming to address the "hidden problem" of student homelessness in the community.

Washington County School District At-Risk Coordinator Brian Gunnell said the school district has been working on the space for "almost two years," including over a year of planning and "eight or nine months" of construction, using an unused portion of the school's library. The space comes with shelves of food and extra school supplies, along with a shower and a laundry room.

"A lot of people don't realize this, but we have a significant homeless population in St. George," he said. "And every year in the Washington County School District, we identify about a thousand students that are classified as experiencing homelessness."

"I think in any community, it's kind of a hidden problem, like a lot of people go under the radar," he added.

Read the full article at St. George News.

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